
© United Nations, globalgoals.org
Sustainable Development Goals
In September 2015, the »2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development« was adopted alongside a catalogue of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs aim to always cover all three dimensions of sustainable development in a coherent manner: Environmental, social and economic. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs is reviewed annually at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Every four years, the heads of state and government of the UN member states also come together for an SDG summit under the auspices of the UN General Assembly. The last summit in September 2023 provided the opportunity for a mid-term review. In addition to the annual SDG Progress Report, the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) served as the basis for this review, a report by a 15-member group of independent scientists. The report shows that a focus on systemic interactions between goals and targets can enable broader, deeper and faster achievement of the goals if synergies are harnessed and trade-offs are successfully addressed. However, such an integrated approach is very demanding and requires capacity building.
Publications
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The United Nations Under Pressure: “Trust Is Low and Needs Are High”
in: "The United Nations at Eighty: Reform for a Shared Future in a New Geopolitical Era", Council of Councils, Global Memo by AIA, CARI, CEPS, Chatham House, COMEXI, Genron NPO, GRF, INSS, Lowy Institute, NIAA, ORF, PISM, RSIS, SIIS and SWP, 03.09.2025 -
Linking Science and Policy for SDG Implementation, UN Reform
IISD’s Stefan Jungcurt has interviewed Marianne Beisheim, Senior Associate, Global Affairs, at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). Beisheim shares her perspectives on connecting science and policy for SDG implementation, UN reform, and keeping the momentum in an increasingly fragmented world.
Interview by Stefan Jungcurt, in: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), SDG Knowledge Hub, 06.08.2025 -
Politics matters!
Political will as a critical condition for implementing the sustainable development goals
in: Earth System Governance, Volume 24, 2025, 100244, ISSN 2589-8116doi:10.1016/j.esg.2025.100244
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Trump 2.0 and the United Nations
Implications for multilateral funding and leadership
in: Division for International Cooperation - Global and European Policy Department, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung e.V., Bonn, January 2025, 8 pages (online) -
Four governance reforms to strengthen the SDGs
A demanding policy vision can accelerate global sustainable development efforts
in: Science; 381, 2023 (1159-1160) (Paywall). -
Sustainable food consumption and Sustainable Development Goal 12: Conceptual challenges for monitoring and implementation
in: Sustainable Development (Early View), 22.08.2023doi:10.1002/sd.2718